Varied Thrush

This spring a new visitor came to the cabin. At first I thought it was a robin, but on closer inspection I identified it as a Varied Thrush.

It first appeared along the cliff, hopping from one grassy spot to the next, never close enough for a good shot.

A Varied Thrush is related to a robin. They live in the Pacific Northwest in wet, coniferous forests. They eat insects (probably a lots of those on the grassy outcrops this time of year), fruit and acorns. Logging of mature forests has limited their range. Maybe that is why he (she?) appeared near the cabin. They just harvested the hills behind us, maybe destroying it's natural habitat or nesting site. -- Margy